Pressing machine



March 24, 1931. V E. DAVIS 1,797,720

PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed June 18, 1927 Patented Mar. 24, 1931UNITED STATES. PATENTOFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, 01 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK,ASSIGIN'OR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY- me, or SYRACUSE, new YORK, Acozaronn'rron or new YORK rnnssme nacnnm Application filed June 18,1927, Serial No. 199,857. Renewed larch 29, 19 29.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garmentor laundrypressing machines of the type set forth in' my pending applicationsSerial Number 199,856, filed June 18, 1927 and Serial No. 200,982, filedJune 23, 1927, embodying an expan'sible pressure member which isexpansible by internal pressure to apply heavy pressure after the pressis closed, and it has for its object, power means for closing the pressand for applym internal pressure to the pressure member an a two-handcontrol, one of which controls the closing of the press and the other ofwhich must be operated to apply the internal pressure to the pressuremember, or whereby both hands must be usedto apply the heavy pressure.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters dcs'ignate'corresponding parts i inall the views.

Figure 1 is. a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the pressure member andthe means for controlling he application of internal pressure thereto.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the powermeans for closing the press and the manual control therefor.

I have here illustrated my invention as applied to a conventional formof garment press or laundry press comprising an upper ressing element orhead 1 movable towar and from a lower pressing element or buck 2 onwhich is mounted a pressure member 3 ofthe construction shown in mypending apphcation. This pressure member is expansible vertically towardthe head 1 and may be formed of resilient metal or other material suchas rubber. It has an upper or top flexible wall 4 and its side walls arein the form of bellows so that the pressure member expands verticallyunder the influence of inter al A pressure. The pressure member isprefera 1y of rein-forced rubber or other flexible material, the rubberbeing reinforced by .canvas layers. Usually, the top wall 4 is coveredwith a suitable padding 5. A fluid, and preferabl a hydraulic ornon-compressible liquid, 11s the pressure member 3, and this fluid fillsfeed pipe 6 to'said-member and fills a stand pipe or chamber 7 to thelevel of the,

li uid 1n the pressure chamber 3. e

he head 1 is shown as carried bythe usual lever 8 pivoted between itsends at 9 to a standard 10 rising from the frame 11, and the buck 2 ismounted on a suitable bracket or goose neck 12 also'mounted onthe frame11. The means for actuatin the head 1 to close the same or bring theheaddown lightly onto the article to be pressed, comprises a suitableman'uallycontrolled motor and motion transmitting means between themotor and the head 1. The motor is here shownas a sin le actin cylinder13 having a piston 14: move 1e therein and the motion transmittingconnections in'addition to the lever 8 as-here illustion, the link 16forms a bell crank with a forwardly extending power arm 20 to which thepiston rod 21 is pivoted at 22. The cylinder is mounted to oscillateabout a pivot 23. Obviously, during the out stroke of the piston 14, thetoggle will be straightened and the press head 2 moved down toward thehead 3. The toggle is adjusted so that it moves into a dead center linewhen the head is down to its full extent so that the head is locked inits closed position. When the pressure is relieved in the cylinder, aswill be hereinafter described, the press will be opened by the reactionof a returning spring 24 connected to the power arm 20. The piston ispreferably actuated by compressed air supplied from a suitable sourcethrough a feed pipe 25 and the flow of air is controlled by a twp-wayvalve which is operated by a manua 26 designates the casing of thetwo-way valve, and the valve itself as here shown is a i by a pressureoperated member as a slide valve including a normally closed intakevalve head 27 and a normally open exhaust valve head 28 which areconnected by turn acts upon a stem 34 of the exhaust valve head.

Obviously, when the button 32 is depressed, the exhaust valve 28 will bemoved toward its seat and the intake valve 27 moved ofi its seatpermitting air to enter the valve casing and through the pipe 31 to thecylinder 13 to actuate the piston on its power stroke until the to lehas moved into straightened positionl hen the pressure is released inthe pressure member as will be resently described, the spring 24 reactsand t e airv exhausts back through the pipe 21, valve casing 26 outthrough the exhaust passage 35 providing, of course, that the 'o ratorisnot holding down the button 32. ut owin to the spring 24 acting toconstantly open t e press, the operator must hold the button 32depressed until internal pressure is applied to the pressure member 3 aswill be presently described.

The power means for applying pressure to the pressure member ,is alsocompressed air which is manually controlled. The manual controlcomprises a valve mechanism similar to that for controlling the closingof the )ress, but in addition, including means for holding the pressureapplied as long as desired. The manual for controlling the flow of airto the pressure chamber 7 and hence, to the pressure member 3 includes avalve casing 36 having a two-way valve 37 and 38 therein connected by astem 39, the valve casing being connected to a feed 'pipe 40 and by apipe 41 to the upper end of theopressure chamber 7, the pipe 41 beingconnected to the valve casing-between the valve heads 37 and 38. Thevalves are operated by means of a push button 41 and lever 42, thislever 42 actmg through an intermediate lever 43 for a urpose to bepresentlydescribed. After the liutton has been depressed to open theintake valve head 37 and close the exhaust 38, the two-way valve is heldinits operated position indefinitely to suit the will of the operator1aphragm 44 located in a chamber 45, the chamber on one side of thediaphragm being con-. 'nected by a passage 46 to thevalve casing 36between the valve heads. The diaphragm acts upon a sliding stem 47 whichcoacts with the lever 43.

Obviously, after the pressure has been bullt up in the chamber 7, a willbuild up in the a pipe 49 to the pressure side of the chamber 45. Theexhaust valve 47 is operated against the action of a returning spring bya lever or handle 50. Obviously, when this lever 50 is operated, the airwill'be exhausted from the diaphragm chamber permitting the intake valvehead 37 to close and the exhaust valve 38 to open so that the airpressure can exhaust from the pressure chamber 7 through the pipe 41,valve casing 36 and out through the exhaust passage 51. When thispressure is relieved, the spring 24 is free to react to open the head 1;It is held from reacting .when the pressure is applied to the pressuremember 3 by the fact that the toggle is held in a straight llne by thepressure which overcomes the spring 24.

In operation, the o rator depresses the button 32 and thus brings thehead 1 down onto the garment or other article on the padding 5 and holdsthe bntton down while he depresses the button 41 momentarily, amomentary depression of thebutton 41 only be- 1ng necessary to createthe pressure in the chamber 7. The manual means and the control valvesare located in suitable housings lairried at any convenient point on theframe What I claim is: I 1. A pressing machine including cooperatmgpressln elements, one of which is movable towar and from the other, aflexible and expansible pressure member on one of said elements andsubstantially coextensive therewith, and formed with extendible sides,power means for moving the movable element toward the other element, amanual for controlling the operation of the power means, means forcreating internal pressure in the expanslble pressure member and amanual for controlling the latter means.

2. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward andfromthe buck. a flexible and ex ansible pressure member mounted on the ucksubstantially coextensive therewlth .expansible toward the head andformed with a metal top wall, power means for actuating the head intoengagement wlth the article on the pressure member, manual means forcontrolling the operation of the power means and manual means forcontrolling the application of internal pressure to the pressure member;

3. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward and fromthe buck,

opposite the other element, one of said ele-- power means for actuatingthe head includmg a toggle movable into straightened position when thehead is moved to its full extent toward the buck, a flexible andexpansiblepressure member on the buck substantially coextensivetherewith and expansible toward the head, power means for applyinginternal hydraulic ssure to the pressure member and manna 'means forcontrolling the application of the last mentioned-power means.

4. A pressing machine including co-operating pressing elements, one ofwhich is movable toward and from the other, means for moving the movableelement toward the other and holding it in its position assumed whenments having a flexibleexpansible pressure opposed to the buck and forhe] in such position, a flexible expansl le power ment and for holding1t in said ppposed tion, one of said elements havin a flexible memberassociated therewith substantiall coextensive with the same and formedwit extendible sides, and means for creating internal pressure in theexpansible pressure member to expand the same and create pressurebetween said elements, and operator operated means for controlling thepressure creating means. v

5. A pressing machine including a' buck, a head movable toward and fromthe buck, means for actuating the head mto a lfiordi e ea pressuremember associated with the buck substantiall coextensive therewith andformed wit extendible sides, and operatoroperated means for controllingthe application of internal pressure to the pressure memr. v 6. ,Apressin machine including co-oper'atin pressin .e ements, one of whichis mov ab e towar and from the other, power means for moving the movableelement toward the other into a position opposed to the other.eleposiexpansible pressure member associated therewith andsubstantially coextensive with the same and formed with a ressin facewhich is movable bodily towar the ot er element when said pressuremember is extended, and means for creatinginternal pressure in theexpansible pressure member to expand the same and create pressurebetween said elements when they are in opposed pos tion,

and operator 'operated means for controlling the pressure means.

7. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward and fromthe buck,

means for actuating the head including a toggle movable intostraightened position, power means for actuatin the toggle towardstraightened position, the sad being opposed to the buck and in pressingrelation thereto without appl ing, substantlal pressure when the toggleis m straightenedposition, a fiexible expansible pressuremember-associated with the buck and substantially coextensive therewith,power 133,.- for applying hydraulic internal pressureto the pressurememher, and operator-o rated means for controlling the operationof thefirst wer means and for controlling theapplication of internal pressureto the power member.

8. A pressing machine including a buck, a

head movable toward and from the buck, an expansible pressure membermounted onthe buck and formed with accordion walls so that said pressuremember may be extended'toward the head, power means for actuating thehead into a position opposed to the pressure member without applyingpressure thereto including'motion transmitting parts arranged to lockthe head in such opposed position before the expansiblepressure memheris expanded, manual means for controlling the operation of the powermeans and additional manual means for controlling the application ofinternal pressure to the pressure member.

,9. A pressing machine including albuck, a head movabletoward and fromthe buck. a pressure member mounted on the buck and expansible towardthe head and collapsible away from the head, said pressure member beingformed with a pressing surface and extendible sides, power means foractuating the head into a position opposed to the power member and outof pressing engagement therewith when the pressure member is collapsedincluding a toggle movable into straightened position and prevented frommoving into straightened position upon the g internal hydraulicmemberand out of pressing engagement therewith when the pressure memberis collapsed- .including a toggle movable into straightened position. an

prevented from moving nto straightened position upon the closing of thehead when the expansiblememher is expanded, and manna ly controlledpower means for applying internal hydraulic pressure to the powermember, and manually controlled power means for actuating the toggletoward straightened position.

11. Apressingmachineincludingco-operatmg pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, an expansihis and collapsiblepressure member on one of said elements substantially coextensivetherewith and expansible to move the entire top :surface thereof towardthe other element, manually controlled power means for a moving themovable element into a position to expand the same.

12. A pressmg machine including co-opcrating pressing elements, one ofwhich is movable toward and from the other,'a flexher and ible,expansible and collapsible pressure member on the latter element andsubstantially coextensive therewith and ex ansible to move the entiretop surface thereo toward the former element, manually controlled powermeans for moving the movable element into a position opposed to but outof pressing engagement wit thepressure memholding it in said opposedposition, and manually operated means for controlling the application ofinternal pressure to the pressure member.

13. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward and fromthe buck, means for holding the head in position opposed to the buckafter being moved from open position toward the buck, a flexibleexpansible power pressure member associated with the uck andsubstantially coextensive therewith and formed with extendible sides anda pressing face, and means for controlling the application of internalpressure to the pressure member.

14. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward and fromthe 'buck, means for moving the head into and holding the head in aposition opposed to the buck, the buck including an upward expansibleportion substantia ly coextensive therewith and formed with extendiblesides, and means for controlling the application of internal pressure tothe expansible portion.

15. A pressing machine including a buck, a head movable toward and fromthe buck, the buck including an upper expansible portion substantiallycoextensive therewith and connected therewith by extendible sidemembers, power means for actuatin the head to bring it into a positionoppose to the buck, an operator-operated control for the power means,operator-operated means for controlling the ap lication of internalpressure to the expansi le portion of the buck to expand the same towardthe head.

unit and means for applying internal'pressure to the expansible means.

17. A pressing machine com risin a buck, a head movable toward and mm te buck, an upwardly expansible member on the buck having a flexible wallon its side toward the 'head and upwardly extensible side walls, aliquid in said member, means for locking the head in its down positionsand operator-controlled means for applying pressure to the liquid insaid member. I

18. A pressing machine comprising cooperatin pressing elements, one ofsaid elements aving a pressing surface and a hollow expansible pressuremember substantially coextensive therewith for applying pressure betweensaid elements, the pressure member having corrugated flexible wallsperpendicular to the pressing surface of said element and means for aplylng fluid pressure to the interior of the ollow pressure member toexpand the same.

19. A pressing machine comprising upper and lower cooperating pressingelements, one of said elements comprising a vertically expansible hollowpressure member substantially coextensive therewith, said pressuremember having a pressin the u per horizontal wal thereof and havin p'ant perpendicular side walls and manua 1y controlled means for applyinginternal pressure to said hollow member to expand the same against theother pressing element.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, inthe county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 14th day ofJune, 1927.

' ERNEST DAVIS.

surface formed by 16. A pressing machine comprising coopv eratingpressing elements, one of which has aclosing and opening movement towardand fromthe other, means for locking the movable element in its closedposition, an expansible pressure member on one of said elements forapplying pressure between said elements when the movable element is inclosed position, said member having a flexible pressure wall on its sideopposed to the other pressing element and upwardly extensible side wallswhereby the topwall is moved upwardly as a

